Lao firms to display products in HCM City for first time

NDO/VNA – A large-scale trade event introducing the products of Lao businesses, the first of its kind, will be held in Ho Chi Minh City from January 24-28, said a Lao official.

Somxay Sanam Oune, Lao Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, said that nearly 140 products made by Lao enterprises will be displayed at 100 booths, including specialties, processed food, medicinal herbs and handicrafts, among others.

The Lao diplomat stressed that Lao companies consider Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in particular as an important market, and they expect that trade promotion and good exchange activities will be held more regularly in the future.

Pham Thiet Hoa, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre, said that the event is of great significance, helping to promote trade and bring Lao products closer to Vietnamese customers.

To facilitate trade exchanges between Vietnamese and Lao businesses, Ho Chi Minh City-based export firms will also showcase their products at 40 pavilions, he added.

In 2017, two-way trade exceeded US$900 million, a rise of 10% against the previous year. The two countries are striving to bring the bilateral trade turnover to US$4 billion by 2020.